Australian media Tuesday praised the rearguard action by South Africa to save the second Test and said their survival will feel like a win going into the third and deciding showdown this week.

Debutant Faf du Plessis batted throughout the final day for a defiant unbeaten century to guide the Proteas to a thrilling draw in Adelaide, spending almost eight hours at the crease in a feat of physical and mental endurance.

"No faffing about from Du Plessis," said the Sydney Morning Herald, with cricket writer Malcolm Knox saying the match had everything bar a winner.

"Or maybe not," he added.

"South Africa's survival will certainly feel like a win as they go into Friday's decider, while Australia's failure to dismiss them in 148 overs will deflate their self-belief beyond quick repair."

The Australian newspaper called Australia's inability to nail the win an "heroic failure" while praising the contribution from Du Plessis, who was at the crease for 464 minutes and faced 376 balls in his draining 110.

"One of the joys of Test cricket is when a player explores the limits of their capabilities, proves something they always wondered if they could do, finds a reserve hidden even from themselves," the paper's Gideon Haigh wrote.

"Faf du Plessis discovered some things about himself in this marathon Test match in Adelaide -- as have his opponents."